Vending-machine mechanism



Feb. 8, 1927. 1,616,822

N. P. PETERSEN VENDING MACHINE MECHANISM Feb. 8, 1927.

v N. P. PETERSEN VENDING MACHINE MECHANISM Filed April 50, 1925 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Feb. 8, 1927.

N. P. PETERSEN VENDINC- MACHINE MEcHANIsM 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed April 30, 1925 JV//f e 5 e ef'ef? W @M2M/75,5.

' 1 616,822 Feb. s, 1927. N. P PETERSEN VENDI NG MACHI NE MECHANI SM Filed April 50. 1925 4 sheets-sheet 4 Patented Feb. 8, 1927.

UNITED STATES NELS P. IPETIERSEN, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

VENDING-MACHINE MECHANISM.

This invention relates to vending machines and consists of the novel features herein shown, described and claimed.

In this case and in a companion application 1 have shown anl described a complete vending machine mechanism and a complete coin slot mechanism for controlling the vending machine mechanism.

, An object of the complete machine is to provide means for vending a plurality of articles at differentprices. The machine shown has a magazine with one or more chambers for 5c articles, one or more chambers for 10e articles and one or more chambers for 1.5 articles, and has means for delivering the desired article by the insertion of a nickel for the 5e articles, a dime.

for the 10 articles and a dime and a for the 15 articles.

The coin slot mechanism has a 5e side and a 109*l side and the machine hasautomatic means for unlocking the 10 side when a nickel is used and for unlocking the 5c' side when a dime is used and for leaving both sides locked when a dime and a nickel are to be used.

It is to be understood that the machine might Vbe differently arranged for the use of different coins and the' dispensing of different priced articles if desired. Specifically an object is to make amagazine of transparent glass rotatably on a vertical axis and having a plurality of chambers for the reception of different stocks of articles to he vended, and to -provide means for bringing the desired stock into position to be discharged by the insertion of a proper coin or coins.

Another object is to make a vending machine having a 5e side and 'a 10 side or the like. the two sides being normally locked anl requiring the insertion of proper coins ,f or unlocking and to provide means whereby either side, may be automatically unlocked so that the machine maybe operated with a single coin on the other side.

In this application I have shown and described a complete vending machine mechanism and coin slot mechanism'. but I have claimed only the vending machine mechanism and in a. companion application I have shown and described the same machine and claimed the coin slot mechanism.

Other objects and advantages will appear nickel Application led April 30, 1925. Serial No. 26,921.

from' the drawings and specification. The drawings lllustrate the complete vending machine mechanism and the complete coin slot mechanism.

Figure l is an irregularsectional elevation of a vending machine mechanism and the coin slot mechanism embodying the principles of my invention, the view being taken substantially on the line l-l of Fig. 2 and looking in the direction indicated by the arrow.

Fig. 2 is a horizontal section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1 and looking downwardly as indicated by the arrow.

Fig. 3 is a horizontal section on the line 3 3 of Fig; 1 and looking downwardly as indicated by the arrow.

Fig. 41 is a fragmentary, horizontal section on the lines 4 4.- of Figs. 1 and 6 and looking downwardly as indicatedby the arrows.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary, vertical, longitudinal section on a plane parallel with Fig. 1 and on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4 and looking in the direction indicated by the arrows.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary, vertical, longitudinal section on a plane parallel with Fig. 5 and on the line 6 6 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary, sectional detail on the lines 7-7 -of Figs. 1 and 6.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary sectional detail on the line 8 8 o Fig. 6.

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary detail looking downwardly from the line 9 9 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 10 1s a fragmentary section on the line 10-10 of Fig. 9.

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary perspective diagram showing the operation of placing a 5e coin in the coin slot mechanism, selecting a 5 package from the magazine, cutting 0H the 10e mechanism and pushing the operating lever to deliver the 5e package.

The details of construction and operation of the complete vending machine mechanism and the complete coin slot mechanism are as follows:

The casing has a substantial solid bottom 1, a pedestal 2 extends upwardly from the bottom'l near its center and may be formed integral with the bottom or substantially secured thereto. A ball bearing 3 rests upon the pedestal 2. A magazine base 4 has a bearing boss 5 extending downwardly from its center and resting upon the ball bearing 3. A. spindle 6 is inserted loosely downthrough the center ofthe boss 5, through they wardly through `the magazine bottom 4,

bearing 3 andtapped into the pedestal 2 and additionallyhe'ld rigid by a set screw 7.

A supportin,D nut 8 is adjustably mounted upon the upper end of the spindle 6, a ball bearing 9 is mounted u on the spindle and rests upon the nut 8.- nut 10 1s mounted upon t e spindle4 6 above the nut 8 and ball. bearing 9 and spaced from the ball bearin The extreme upper end of the s indle 6 1s reduced to form the pintle 11 an' the pintle 11Y is perforated to receive the hasp 12'of a I lock 13.

A ledge 14 extends inwardly from the wall 15 of the case and the wall 15 extends upwardly from the edge of the bottom 1. The top 16 of the ledge 14 is substantially on a level with the centers of the balls of the bearing 3. A bore 17 is formed downwardly into the ledge 14. An expansive coil spring 18l is placed in the bore, a ball 19 is placed in the bore 17 'upon the `sprin 18 and the material of the ledge is peene .around the ball so as to allow the ball to`project slightly above the face 16 and to hold the ball from `being expelled fromthe bore as required to the make a ball catch.

Referring to Fig. 2, the wall 15 is concentric to the pedestal 2 and the bottom 1 is necessarily circular and extends from the lower edge of the wall A15 inwardly to the pedestal2 all the way around. At-the front a square or rectangular portion 2O extends from the bottom 1 and a three sided portion 21 extends from the wall 15 along the three outer sides of the portion 20. A cover 22 com 'letes the enclosure of the space above bottom portion 20 within the wall portion 21. The'circular portion of the wall 15 extends to the level of the top of the cover 22 `as shown in Fig. 1 and extends some distance above the ball catch 19 and the bearteferring to Figs. 1, 3, 6 and 7 the magazine bottom 4 has rectangular pockets 23, 24, 25,26, 27 and 28 extending downwardly from the level'29 substantially to the level ofthe centers of the balls ofthe bearing 3, being 'the normal upper face of the bottom 4.

Tie bolts 30, 31, 32, 33, 34 and 35 extend through the bottom 4 between the pockets 23 to 28. Stop bolt holes 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46 and 47 are formed through the bottom 4 inside of the pockets 23, 24, 25, 26, 27 and 28, there being two stop bolt holes for each pocket. The pockets are arranged radially in a circle equally spaced from the spindle 6 and the bolt holes 36 to 47 are arranged in the space inside of the ockets and concentric to the spindle 6.

T e main magazine sheel 48 is circular in plan and "rests upon the bottom 4 inside of a retaining flange 4 and is concentric to the spindle 6. Chambers 49, 50, 51, 5 2, 53 and I cha 54 extend outwardly from the shell 48 and reglster with the pockets 23, 24, 25, 26,27 and 28 to -make compartments for receiving the packages to'be vended.

ropose to make the shell 48 and the m er 49 to -54 of transparent glass, preferabl A all in one piece and the shell and cham rs will be of considerable height as required to receive considerable stocks of the articles to ,be vended.

A magazine cover supporting frame 55 fits upon the upper yend of the shell 48 and has aI retaining flange 56 around the upper end of the shell and the frame 55 lits loosely upon the upper end of the spindle 6 against l the. ball bearing 9 and under the nut 10.

The tie bolts 30, 31, 32, 33, 34 and 35 extend through .the frame 55 to securely connect the frame to thebottom 4 and hold the magazine shell 48 and chambers securely in place. The frame 55 has openings 57 registering with the chambers 23, 24, 25 26, 27 and 28 so that the packages to be vended may be inserted through the openings 57 into the chambers.

A removable cover 58 has a rim 59 fitting around the ange 56 and the cover bulges upwardl and has a centrall opening 60 in which the pmtle 11 lits loosely. After the magazines have `been filled the cover 58 is applled and the lock 13-applied to hold the cover from being removed. A guard 61 in the form of a concavo-convex disc fits upon the cover 58, there being button-holes 62 and slot 63 extending from thebutton-holes in the cover 58 and there being rivets 63 and 64 fixed in the guard 61, so that the guard may be4 placed in position with the button 65, upon the lower ends of the rivets 64 passing through the button-holes 62, and the guard 61 isrotated to bring the necks 66 of the rivets 64 into the slot 63. This guard is simply an ornamentel covering for the lock 13 and pintle 11.

The magazine thus constructed is adapted to rotate freely upon the bearings 3 and 9 in either direction. A rim 67 extends downwardly from the bottom 4 between the bottoms of the pockets 23, 24, 25,26, 27 and 28 and the lower face 68. of. this rim runs upon the ball clutch 19, there being depressions 69 in the face 68 to receive the ball catch 19- and hold the magazine with the desired` nal central slot 71 leading through the back wall 72 and through the bottom 73. The

pockets are of a suitable depth to receive the lower package 74 of the column of ackages 75 in the chambers 49 to54,'an the opening 71 is to allow the package 74 upon the bottom 73 to slide forwardly through the opening. A door 75 is mounted upon a horizontal pivot 76 at its top and swings freely in the openings 70 to exclude dirt.

Referring to Figs. 2, 4 and 5, walls 77 and 78 are mounted upon the bottom 1 in parallel positions and spaced apart and extending from near the front, backwardly a con- 'of the wall 78. A smaller gear 84 is fixed upon the shaft 81 against the outer face of the wall 77. 'A larger gear 85 is mounted u on the stub shaft 86 against the outer face o? the wall 77 and meshes with the smaller gear 84. A hub 87 extends outwardly from the gear and a smaller gear 88 is fixed upon the hub 87. A gear rack 89 is mounted upon a pivot 90 fixed in the wall 77 and the gear rack 89 meshes with the gear 88 as shown in Fig. 1.

An operating lever 91 extends from the gear yrack 81 outwardly and forwardly through a slot 92 in the casing portion 21 and has a push button 93 on its forward end outside of the easing, so that when the push l button 93 is pressed downwardly the shaft 81 is rotated to operate the gears 82 and 83 in the directions indicated by the arrows 94 and 95 as shown in Fig. 11.

A retractile coil spring 96 is connected to the operating lever 91 and to the top 22 and serves to raise the lever 91 and push button 93 to return the parts to their normal positions. l

Gear racks 97 and 98 are recessed into the inner faces of the walls 77 and 78 and slidingly mounted in planes above the gears 82 and 83 and in mesh with the gears, so that when the push button 93 is pressed downwardly the racks 97 and 98 will move forwardly, said racks having gear teeth upon their lower edges.

Pawl teeth 100 are formed upon the edges of the gear racks and pawls 101 are mounted in positions to engage the pawl teeth 100 so as to hold the gear racks 97 and 98 from returning after thay have started forwardly and until the complete forward movements have been made. After the pawl teeth 100 pass forwardly-beyond the pawls 101, the pawls'will drag over the teeth upon thereturn movements.

A bar 102 rigidly connects the rear ends of the racks 97 and 98. The bar 102 may be held against rotation by pins 103 and 104, or in any other suitable way. A pawl base 105 is mounted upon the center of the bar 102 and held against rotation by a pin 106. The upper art of the base 105 is bifurcated. A pawl 10 is mounted in the bifurcation upon a pivot 108. The pawl 107 is adapted to .swing forwardly and is over-balanced to swing upwardly to a vertical position and. is heldfrom swinging backwardly from the vertlcal position by a stop pin 109.v The over-balancingv is obtained by making the lower end of the pawl longer and heavier than the upper end. The projecting upper end of the pawl 107 is in position to move through the wall 72 and engage the package 74 upon the bottom 73 and continued operation causes the pawl to move through the slot 71 and push the package through the openings 70 and the package slides down the delivery chute 110 through the front wall of the easing it may be removed by the purchaser.

The pawl 107 is operated by pressing the push button 93 downwardly to the limit. After the package 74. has been expelled, the column of packages 75 will settle, the push button 93 is released, the spring 96`returns the parts to their normal positions and the pawl 107 swings forwardly and drags under the boftom package.

Latch bars 112 and 113 are mounted against the inner faces of the walls 77 and 78 upon pivot screws 114 and 115 and have teeth 116 and 117 near theirforward ends to pass downwardly and engage locking lugs 118 and 119 projecting inwardly from the racks 98 and 97 so as to hold the racks from moving and thereby locking the vending machine against the delivery of goods until` the latch bars 112 and 113 are properly operated to release the racks.

Nubs 120 and 121 ext-end' downwardly from the forward ends of the latch bars 11.2 and 113 and pins 122 and 123 are fixe-fl in 21 to the stop 111 from which lud these nubs and extend outwardly into the planes of the racks 98 and 97 so that when a coin 124 comes between the front end of the rack bar- 97 and the pin 123, and the push button 93 is operated to move the rack bar 97 forwardly, the coil will engage the .pin 123 and raise the. latch bar 113 to raise the tooth 117 out of engagement with the lug 119 and unlock that side of the machine.

In the same manner a coin between the front end of the rack bar 98 and the pin 120 will unlock the other side of the machine.

The machine shown and described isto be operated or controlled with a`5 coin inserted through the coin slot..125 and a 10 coin inserted through the coin slot 126. The 5 eoin passes through the coin slot 125 and through the chute 127 and follows down` wardly into position in front of the rack bar 97, and in a like manner when desired the 10` coin is inserted through the slot 126 and passes through the chute 128 and follows downwardly in front of the rack bar 98.

The operation of discharginga package will move the coin forwardly in a horizontal conduit 129 and then the coin will fall downwardly through the conduit 130 and pass backwardly along the incline of the conduit 131 to the coin box 132.

Referring to Fig. 3, the magazine 133 is adaptedto contain 5 packages in the chamber 49, packages in the chambers 50, 51 and 52 and 15 packages in the chambers 53 and 54 and the magazine has been rotated to bring the chamber 49 into position to discharge a 5 package. I

A stop bolt 134 is inserted through the stop bolt hole 38 and the stop bolt hole 47 is left empty so that the stop bolt 134 en gages the rear end of the latch bar 112 and raises the tooth 116 out of engagement with the lug 118 and unlocks the 10e side of the machine. Then when the nickel -is inserted and the push button 93 pressedl downwardly,

the 5e package is delivered.

Pads 135 and 136 are formed upon the rear ends of the latch bars 112 and 113 to be engaged by the lower ends ofthe bolts 134 and so on, so that the bolts will slide readily on to and oil' of the pads to operate the latch bars.

A stop bolt 137 is inserted through the bolt hole 37 and the bolt hole 40 is left blank so that when the magazine 133 is operated to bring the chamber into delivery position, the k`bolt 137 will press downwardly upon the pad 136 and unlock the 5e side ofthe machine and then the insertion of a 10e coin through the slot 126 will operate the 10 side of the machine.

In alike manner al stop bolt 138 is inserted through the boltl hole 39 and the bolt hole 42 is left blank so that when the magazine 51 is brought into operation the stop bolt 138 will engage the pad 136 and unlock the 5e side of the machine.

In a like manner a stop bolt 139 is inserted into the bolt hole 41 and the bolt hole 44 is left blank, then if the magazine 52 is brought into delivery position a stop bolt 139 will engage the pad 136 and unlock the 5 side of the machine. l The bolt holes 36, 43. 45, 46 and 47 are left blank.

lVhen the magazine lsoperated to bring 4 the chamber 53 or 54 into position there are no stop bolts to engage either the pad 135 .or 136 and both sides of the machine are locked, consequently a 5 coin must be 'inserted through the slot 125 and a 10 coin must be inserted through the slot 126 in order to deliver a 15e package.

4It a different arrangement of packages is desired the stop bolts 134, 137, 138 and 139 or similar stop bolts may be arranged in the series of holes 36 to 47 to suit the occasion.

The coin pas ages 127, 129, 130 and 131 lare recesses upon the inner faces of the walls 77 and 78 and these recesses are covered by plates 140, 141,142 and 143 as shown in Fig. 6. l

There are two coin boxes 132 one for each side and the coin boxes are slidingly mounted through the wall 15 diametrically opposite each other and each box has a lock 144 with a catch 145 engaging the wall 15 so that when the boxes are locked they cannot be removed without unlocking.

If it is desired to operate the vending mechanism withoututilizing coins, stop bolts mayl be placed in all-the stop bolt holes. Therefore in any position of the magazine with the stacks of packages in position for vendinv'a stop bolt will engage both of the pads 135 and 136 and therefore unlateh the latch bars 112 and 113.

Various changes may be made without deand the package ejecting means, whereby the single operated lever may be utilized to eject packages from a plurality of the stacks of packages.

2. A vending machine comprising in combination a magazine rotatably mounted on a vertical laxis and having a, plurality of chambers adapted to retain stacks of packages, a single operating lever, a train of gears operated thereby, means controlledby said gears to eject the lowermostl package from a stack, a series of stop bolts adjustably mounted in the magazine and an operative ,connection between said stop bolts and the ejecting means in various positions of the magazine, whereby the single operating lever may be utilized to eject packages from a plurality of stacks of packages.

3. In a vending machine, a movable magazine having a. plurality 0;" chambers adapted to contain stacks of packages, anejecting device. a single operating lever, a plurality of l oo latch bars, means actuated by the movement adapted to be latched by the latch bars,- a-

irain et gearing between the operating leverl and the rack bars, and means actuated by the movement of the magazine to unlatch any one of the 4latch bars from the rack bars and permit movement of the ejecting device.

5. In a vending machine, a rotatable magazine having a plurality of chambers adapted to contain stacks of packages, a series of stop bolt holes in the magazine, a series of stop bolts in some of the holes, a plurality of pivotally mounted latch bars positioned to engage the stop bolts, a plurality of rack bars having means to form an inter-latching connection with the latch bars, a single operating lever operatively connected to the rack bars to operate same nd an ejecting device connected to the rack ars.

6. In a vending machine, a casing bottom, a pedestal extending upwardly from `the bottom, a spindle extending upwardly from the pedestal, a magazine bottom mounted on the spindle, a magazine shell forming chambers mounted upon the bottom, the magazine bottom having a plurality' of `stop bolt holes with stop bolts in some of the holes, a plurality of pivotally mounted latch bars adaptedto engage the stop bolts, a plurality of rack bars having inter-latching means with the latch bars, a single operating lever, means forming an operative connection between said lever and the rack bars and an ejecting pawl operatively connected to the rack bars.

7. In a vending machine having a casing bottom, a pedestal extending upwardly from the bottom, a spindle extending upwardly from the pedestal, a magazine bottom mounted upon the spindle having a plurality of stop bolt holes with stop bolts in some of the holes, a magazine shell forming chambers mounted upon the bottom, said chambers being adapted to hold stacks of paclages, a plurality of latch bars adapted to contact with the stop bolts, a plurality of rack bars having inter-latching `relation with the latch bars, an ejecting pawl operatively connected to the rack bars, adapted to eject the lowermost package of a stack, an operating lever and a train of gears between said lever and the rack bars. I

8. A vending machine structure having a casing bottom, a pedestal extending upwardly from thebottom, a spindle extending upwardly from the pedestal, a magazine bottom mounted upon the spindle to allow rotation thereabouts, a magazine shell forming chambers mounted on the bottom, said chambers being adapted to contain stacks of packages, a cover frame mounted upon the spindle against the upper end of the magazine shell and having filling openings for the chambers, a cover removably mounted upon the cover frame, and mea-ns to lock the cover to the spindle.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

NELS P. PETERSEN. 

